Han Dynasty Achievements

Chapter 86 Resistance

Within the palace.

Yongle Palace.

Empress Dowager He looked at the white-haired old man who was nearly seventy years old, smiling, and said, "Mr. Yuan, I didn't expect you to come to Beijing. If I had known, I would have gone to pick you up in person."

This old man has no beard, looks energetic, and exudes a strong scholarly air. His name is Yuan Bao.

He smiled at Empress Dowager He and said, "I have been so quiet that I want to move. I came out for a walk and meet my old friends in the capital. If I don't come again, I'm afraid I will never have the chance again. This time I came to see the Empress Dowager to say goodbye."

Empress Dowager He's face changed slightly, and she said anxiously, "Sir, you are a blessed man, you will surely live a long life, you must not belittle yourself."

Yuan Bao didn't care, and said generously: "Life and death are in the hands of God, how can human power force it? Queen Mother, please listen to my advice, everything should go with the flow, don't be overbearing, the way of heaven and earth is to be natural."

Empress Dowager He heard the implication in his words and asked in confusion, "Sir, what is the matter with you coming to Beijing this time?"

Yuan Bao did not hide the truth and said, "Since Emperor Huan, there has been a habit of killing people. All scholars are in danger and live in fear. Now that Your Majesty has ascended to the throne, within just a few months, there have been two palace coups and one execution of the eunuchs, with more than 10,000 people killed in vain. It is shocking to hear about it. The court wants to exterminate the Yuan family, and I am afraid that countless people will be slaughtered again. I have come here specially, hoping to prevent some of them."

Empress Dowager He did not like government affairs very much and rarely interfered in them, so she turned to the palace maid beside her.

The maid bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know. I heard that Your Majesty was ill, but I didn't hear about any decree to exterminate the Yuan family."

Empress Dowager He understood what was going on and looked at Yuan Bao, seeming to want to say something but stopping herself.

Yuan Bao was the Ye Ting Cheng more than ten years ago. It was he who selected Empress Dowager He and brought her into the palace. Empress Dowager He was also taken care of by Yuan Bao in the palace.

It can be said that everything about Empress Dowager He and the He family originated from Yuan Bao.

Yuan Bao was not interested in money or official positions, he just loved reading. Empress Dowager He had wanted to repay him for all these years but had no idea how to do so.

After a long while, Empress Dowager He stood up and said, "Mr. Yuan, I'm going to see Bian'er."

Yuan Bao immediately stood up and said, "My queen, I have no other intentions. I only ask Your Majesty to be kind and stop the killing."

Empress Dowager He nodded slightly, escorted Yuan Bao out of the palace, and then went straight to Jingfu Palace.

The side hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

While coughing and trying to suppress the drowsiness from taking the medicine, Liu Bian was talking to his cheap father-in-law Tang Mao sitting opposite him.

Tang Mao, governor of Kuaiji and father of Tang Ji.

Tang Ji knelt beside them, pouring tea for the two of them, with her head lowered and her face red.

Tang Mao has rigid facial features and a pair of peach blossom eyes, and looks like a romantic and famous person.

He sat opposite Liu Bian, feeling secretly delighted that his daughter was the first one to be accepted into the harem by the new emperor. He bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, the people of Kuaiji are simple and honest, with a strong academic atmosphere, and the people are rich and live a stable life. It is a land of fish and happiness."

Liu Bian kept coughing, his head was stiff, and he smiled and said, "I know your family's achievements. You will stay in Beijing for the time being, and I will make other arrangements."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Tang Mao said. He was calm as usual, but his heart was very excited. There were three words echoing in his heart: Great General.

Liu Bian doesn’t have much thinking ability now, but this is his first father-in-law and he has to treat him well.

He took a sip of tea, suppressed the tingling in his throat, and said to Tang Mao, "Besides reporting on your work, do you have anything else to do when you come to the capital this time?"

"Nothing else." Tang Mao said. He had two main purposes for coming to the capital this time. One was to send Tang Ji to the palace, and the other was to seek a career in the new dynasty. Now that he had both, there was naturally nothing else to do.

Liu Bian nodded slightly and reached for the teacup again.

Tang Ji understood and whispered to her father, "Dad, His Majesty is not feeling well today. Let's talk about it another day."

Tang Mao glanced at his daughter who had already turned her back on him, paused for a moment, and said, "Your Majesty, I dare to ask you to be cautious and think twice before you act regarding the Yuan family's matter."

Liu Bian was getting more and more sleepy. He had already made a plan for the Yuan family. His smile faded a little. He asked, "Have you looked for your family?"

Tang Mao bowed and said, "Yes. I dare not deceive your majesty. The Tang family and the Yuan family have some history and have also been married. When I was young, I was educated in the Yuan family."

Liu Bian already knew all this.

He coughed, took a long breath, and said, "Your Highness has seen that I am seriously ill. Let's talk about it another day."

Seeing this, Tang Mao said anxiously, "Your Majesty, I am pleading for the Yuan family not because of the favors I have received in the past. But the consequences of exterminating the Yuan family are serious and unpredictable. I do not ask for your Majesty's pardon, but only for your Majesty to leave some room for them. This room for them is for the Yuan family, for the nobles of the world, and for your Majesty."

Liu Bian was a little drowsy and could no longer hear much. He tried to open his eyes wide and answered in a universal formula: "Okay, I understand."

Tang Ji helped Liu Bian get up and was about to return to the bedroom.

When Tang Mao saw this, he wanted to say something again and again, but in the end he could only sigh silently.

Tang Ji helped Liu Bian out of the side hall and said softly, "Your Majesty, I will make some medicine for you later. You must take the medicine on time so that you can get better soon."

Liu Bian was so sleepy that he hummed and stood unsteadily, holding on to the wall as he walked step by step.

"Bian'er, what's wrong with you?"

Suddenly, Liu Bian heard a scream in his ear. He looked up and saw Empress Dowager He walking quickly towards him. She held his other arm with a worried look on her face.

"Mother, it's okay. I just caught a cold." Liu Bian forced a smile.

Empress Dowager He didn't think much about it. She supported him and said, "Bian'er, I heard that you sent troops to surround Yuan's mansion?"

No matter how sleepy he was or how stiff his mind was, Liu Bian still tried his best to stay awake and said with a smile, "I have never issued such an order, mother, I feel a little uncomfortable."

Empress Dowager He was startled and said, "Quick, quick, call the doctor. Bian'er, hold on for a while, we'll be in the bedroom soon."

Not long after, Liu Bian was put to bed. Tang Ji went to cook medicine. Empress Dowager He sat beside the bed and felt heartbroken to see that Liu Bian was in pain.

Liu Bian kept blinking, as if he would fall asleep at the next moment, but he didn't dare to sleep and held on tightly.

Empress Dowager He's face twitched, and she continued, "Bian'er, why did you send troops to surround the Yuan family?"

Liu Bian said: "I have never issued such an order."

Empress Dowager He was immediately delighted and said, "Then let them come back."

Liu Bian smiled and said, "Mother, the officials must have their reasons for doing what they do."

Empress Dowager He frowned and said, "The Yuan family cannot be killed. You should think of another way. If you don't issue an imperial decree, I will."

Liu Bian looked at Empress Dowager He and felt hot and had a splitting headache.

The reason why he didn't dare to sleep was actually to guard against this! In the entire Han Dynasty, only Queen Mother He could suppress him.

Although Liu Bian issued an edict that the harem could not interfere in government affairs, this was directed at his own harem and could not have included his cheap father's harem.

If Empress Dowager He really issued an imperial decree, Wang Yun and others would have no choice but to stop fighting and would be completely powerless to resist.

Liu Bian closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and managed to wake up a little. He gasped and said, "Mother, the Yuan family forged my uncle's letter and tried to mobilize troops to enter the capital. They are more terrible than the eunuch party. I can let them go today, but they may not let us go tomorrow..."